Nina Gualinga, co-founder of the Hakhu Project, shares the story and inspiration behind the organization dedicated to supporting indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, following their collaboration with the Model Mafia.
Growing up in an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Nina Gualinga has been on the front line of the fight against extractivism and climate change faced by indigenous communities. “One of the biggest and most urgent problems problem we face in the Ecuadorian Amazon is the extraction of natural resources and the fossil fuel industry,” Nina explains. Seeing this threat and inspired to do something about it, Nina co-founded the Hakhu Project.
“The Hakhu Project was born as a way to support indigenous youths and women in our communities. We – five indigenous youths – wanted to build the power of our communities to defend our way of life and our home against threats such as oil, gas and road development. The idea is to have a for-profit, Hakhu Amazon Design, and a non-profit, Hakhu Amazon Foundation working hand in hand for change.”